The Times-Picayune is reporting that an L. A. Lakers back-up forward was arrested and jailed early Sunday for hitting a pregnant waitress at a downtown IHOP and that he was drunk during the incident.
Derrick Caracter, 22, was arrested about 1:18 a.m. Sunday at the IHOP in the 800 block of Canal Street, said New Orleans Police spokeswoman Shereese Harper.
Caracter is a 6’9†forward who was in New Orleans for the playoffs series. He was reportedly drunk and acting disorderly inside the restaurant.
He “started grabbing and pulling” a pregnant waitress, prompting the manager to go outside and flag down a police officer, Harper said. The female officer tried to defuse the situation, Harper said, but Caracter remained obstinate. The officer arrested him.
He was handcuffed and taken to Orleans Parish jail and booked with one count of battery for hitting the waitress, as well as one count each of public intoxication and resisting arrest. Each charge is a municipal violation, police said.
Records show Caracter was released from jail, but it is unclear when his bond was posted.
The incident took place near the Lakers’ hotel on a night in which there was no game. On Sunday night, the Hornets beat the Lakers and evened the playoff series at two games apiece. Caracter, a rookie, did not play.
The Lakers play the Hornets again Tuesday night.
